Is a (call for, at this point) "general strike" in itself a good thing?

I think that's the right question to be asking. I'm not sure of the answer.

In Spain calling for a General Strike isn't taken lighty, at least not by any of the unions we're talking about. It was a major discussion among different unions as well as within the Catalan CNT whether to call for this strike. The strike is being called by multiple unions.

We'll see what kind of following it has, which will be interesting in and of itself since it isn't being called by CCOO or UGT. I don't know about on a regional level but on a national level there has not been a single general strike called without CCOO or UGT since the death of Franco.

Just to clarify about the dockworkers as there seems to be some confusion about who is who, on Spanish social media as well as on here. Different groups of workers in the port of Barcelona have different employers and are in different unions. Coordinadora represents the 'estibadores', the workers who load and unload ships. In some ports other unions have more of a presence but in Barcelona they're overwhelmingly Coordinadora. It was Coordinadora who voted to refuse to supply the cruise ships providing accommodation for police. This was a mainly symbolic gesture, though one worth making. It just means that the police have to make trips to the supermarket for supplies like anyone else. The vote to boycott the police ships was unanimous but as far as I know Coordinadora haven't taken a position on the referendum itself.

The CNT represents a majority of the linesmen ('amarradores') in the port. These are a small group of workers responsible for mooring and casting off ships. Their wages and conditions are different to the 'estibadores' and they earn a lot less. Relations between the CNT and Coordinadora in the port seem pretty good. It probably helps that they represent different groups of workers and aren't really competing directly for members. I think the CGT has a majority of the people working on boats in the port - so the protests with tugs sounding their horns would probably be from CGT members. Again relations with the CNT and Coordinadora seem friendly enough.

Mark, you did a good job explaining where and what functions each union does. I didn´t think that it needed that clarification, sorry about that. And yes, CGT, Coordinadora and CNT are on the same page and have good relations.

OliverTwister wrote:

Mark. wrote:

jura wrote:

Is a (call for, at this point) "general strike" in itself a good thing?

I think that's the right question to be asking. I'm not sure of the answer.

In Spain calling for a General Strike isn't taken lighty, at least not by any of the unions we're talking about. It was a major discussion among different unions as well as within the Catalan CNT whether to call for this strike. The strike is being called by multiple unions.

We'll see what kind of following it has, which will be interesting in and of itself since it isn't being called by CCOO or UGT. I don't know about on a regional level but on a national level there has not been a single general strike called without CCOO or UGT since the death of Franco.

Yeah, this is very interesting to me. It is an opportunity that has been looking for these years since the economy crisis began and powder keg 15M, was tried almost two years ago with all the radical unions through "Las Marchas de la Dignidad" but at the last moment there was no synergy between the different unions and was left in the air. Now presents an excellent opportunity, there is synergy between the radical unions with a common strike committe. The regional CCOO and UGT bases are agitated and may join the striking movement because their unions leave their affiliates free to participate or not. The strike has the support of the parties of the left (CUP, Podems, ...) and the student movement (SEPC, FEL...). In addition the "defense committees" are also going to support the strike in the neighborhoods.
It will be a hard strike and most importantly though not come to get a complete strike in the workplace, radical unions and especially CNT and CGT are going to be moral and socially reinforced among the working class.
Also that same day there will be demonstrations and protests in the rest of Spain supporting the strike.

Here's a statement that the CNT put out yesterday about the General Strike. I notice they say "population of Catalonia" which may have been mistranslated previously as "citizens of Catalonia" although I don't have time now to go back and look.

Google Translate seems to indicate that both texts are against the idea of anarchists jumping on the nationalist bandwagon in Catalonia. Are they somehow significant? Who are the authors? They don't seem to provide new insight on the topic. I am just curious why the post appears here in Spanish.

They are writers, philosophers and academics. No union or social activists. And therein lies his problem to analyze the reality of the moment.
And this without detracting any of his books that may have interest. In the same way it can be a Chomsky for USA.

I am rather speaking that cultural hegemony was won by capitalism. And today terms like proletariado or bourgeoisie for example for many working class they sound old and history. Or that if you want to reach broad layers of the working class that contemptuously is called choni or cani in spain (your Chavs) or are not almost politicized does not come with the same slang/argot that we use here, we are presupposed a theoretical knowledge in politics and ideology.

er its a bit ironic for somebody lending ''support'' even in the loosest sense to catalan nationalism to be getting on some prolier than thou high horse about people using a language others don;t understand or moaning about others getting all smug over linguistics isn't it?

Quote:

The CNT and the CGT are not irrelevant, places like Olot, Granollers and other provinces or more rural areas the CNT and CGT have a significant influence on local activism. In Barcelona also it is remarkable the port docks of CNT; the maritime CGT in Tarragona and Barcelona, as well as in general has strength in public sector: admins, transport and education.

Now again correct me if i'm wrong here but in practice wouldn;t a good chunk of the jobs you've just described there be ones where a minimum entry requirement these days might be a certificate in catalan or proficency as a native speaker especially for example all public sector jobs and education jobs.

And now, for a slightly different point of view (admittedly, the timing is lousy, because the cops are taking over certain voting centers and the situation is very tense, sorry about that... circumstances beyond our control and the like):

At 2 pm there're about 43 people injured, 1 attended after a rubber bullet in the eye. Civil desobedience, all around. Spanish left calling for solidarity demos this evening all around Spain. Partido Popular denying anything is actually happening in Catalonia. Independence movement stronger than ever, and many voices asking for an immediate proclamation of the Republic. Many voices as well for the general Strike.

Anarchists are preparing the strike:

ah, and many anarchists are actually voting, probably most of us are. Some are even in popular committees to self-defense the polls (fucking weird, I reckon), but waiting to become them in strike committes.
To put this on a context, our movement was for voting NO in 1978 against spanish Constitution, in 1986 against NATO and 2005 against EU constitution.

Open letter from CNT’s International Secretary
Our position on Catalonia
Dear comrades,
First of all, thanks for the support that so many of you have provided with translations, putting statements up on social media, planning actions, etc. CNT, as a whole, and the comrades in Catalonia, particularly, are really grateful for your support.
As you know the days are momentous in Catalonia and, to a lesser extent, in the rest of Spain. As I write these lines, riot police and the infamous military police, Guardia Civil, are attacking masses of people in the streets of many towns across Catalonia. CNT, together with other unions, is calling for a general strike on the 3rd of October against this repressive wave.
You probably know that the unity of Spain has always been a rallying flag for the far right here. Therefore, any calls for self-determination from any part of it, as is the case now in Catalonia, spark a vicious response. We are already seeing an increase in the presence of fascist groups in many towns across Spain and the conservative government is taking an increasingly authoritarian stance, trampling on many fundamental freedoms. These are ominous signs of what might lie ahead for us. Repression is only likely to worsen on many fronts, may be even involving the military.
On some international forums, CNT is being criticised for, allegedly, playing into the hands of the nationalists with our call for a general strike. That’s understandable. As we've said somewhere else, it's a fine line we're trying to walk here and it's only normal that its nuances are lost in the distance (or in translation). It is also difficult for us, and there are lots of internal discussions/debates going on about our strategy, as you would expect in an open and plural organisation like CNT.
Make no mistake, while we firmly oppose repression from an increasingly authoritarian state and their fascist allies, we are in no way supportive of the nationalist agenda. All along this week there have been countless demonstrations in Catalonia to defend today's referendum, independence, self-determination…you name it. CNT has not called for or supported any of these. In fact, where comrades have a local presence, they've been busy making themselves uncomfortable for the nationalists, bringing economic and social issues to the fore, reminding people that the Catalan government was very keen to introduce social cuts only a few years ago, etc. This, in fact, is stated in our call for the general strike, in a very similar wording.
So much so, that the call for a strike is not directed only to Catalonia, the only place where, for obvious reasons, the strike will actually take place. No, the text makes it abundantly clear that it is addressed to the whole of the Spanish state. It is understood that, in this situation, to achieve our goals as a class, we have to spread resistance everywhere. This should not be a fight between nations, but between classes. Between an oppressive regime and its fascist allies (as much a part of the “people” as anyone else) and those of us who stand for freedom and rebellious dignity.
We expect repression to increase during the following weeks and days and we will use our weapon of choice, the general strike, to make it difficult for police to move around, get supplies and do their work in general. We'll see how things move forward from today on, but an already difficult situation can actually get nasty, in terms of repression. As revolutionaries, we don't believe we can just remain idle, while the police attack the people in the streets and fascist gangs roam our towns freely.
Again, thank you for your support. We'll keep you updated.
Miguel Pérez, International secretary, CNT.

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